Non-invasive respiratory support in preterm infants traditionally consisted of the application of continuous distending positive pressure at the nose. More recently, the continuous distending pressure has been combined with intermittent positive pressure cycles using conventional ventilators or devices developed specifically for this purpose. One of the common terms used to refer to these modal...

Non-invasive ventilation techniques provide and enhance alveolar ventilation without the need for an endotracheal airway. These techniques are increasingly being used by nurses to manage patients with type 2 respiratory failure. The author outlines the advantages of, and criteria and contraindications for, using bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP).

The second part of this article on non-invasive ventilation (NIV) examines the use of bilevel non-invasive ventilation, discussing the differences between CPAP and bilevel NIV. It also focuses on how to assess and monitor patients receiving either CPAP or bilevel NIV, and patient outcomes.